Hiking/ Camping in East TN

[Guest ChattownKA]

i know that there are hundreds of places on this side of the state to go hiking, backpacking and camping, i just wanna hear y'alls recommendations. Which allow you to carry, which prohibit. Which have awesome views or great watering holes. If there are any places you may have gone to that have crazy rules. Or a place to just simply avoid. i wanna hear about it. thanks

[runco]

My choices in order:

>Indian Boundary in the Cherokee National Forrest.

>Greenbrier Campground in Pittman Center

>Then just being on the AT

[peejman]

Which version of camping....   backpacking, primitive tent camping, car camping, RV'ing (when bring the whole house, that no longer qualifies as "camping" in my book  :)  )?

 

The major camp grounds in GSMNP are all very nice and stay busy for that reason.  You can carry in the national park, but you cannot carry in any park building that's properly posted (most are).  Back country camp sites are also nice but require reservations.  Obviously there's plenty of hiking in the park. 

 

Indian Boundary, Frozen Head, Big South Fork, Joyce Kilmer, are all nice as well.  Plenty of hiking at all of these but expect trails to be a bit more over-grown than what you'll find in the park.  Best of my knowledge, you can carry anywhere that's not posted.  If you want to go further east, Grayson Highlands and Mt. Rogers in VA are good places to go. 

 

Beyond that, there's a million other little campground scattered all over the place.  

[Wheelgunner]

I did a weekend trip to Frozen Head recently and was not terribly impressed.  The campground was well maintained, but all the campsites were really close together.  It was full of RV folks and fairly noisy.  (It would probably be quieter if you went during the week.)  Flat Fork Creek was low when I was there, so fishing was out.  I hiked part of the Lookout Tower trail.  Trail was in good repair and I didn't see a single person on it.  

 

If I give Frozen Head another try, I'll do backcountry camping instead and do a serious 3-4 day hiking trip.

[Guest ChattownKA]

i agree, RVing is not camping. i mainly go 3-4 day backpacking trips which require one to camp, whether its pitch a tent or hang a hammock. i know in the Great smoky mountains they require you to reserve the camp grounds, and the shelters they have there are fairly nice, some are better than others. 

but im looking for 20-30 mile trails to go on a hike for a few days.but i also like weekend trips, start Saturday, hike as far as you can and pitch camp and Sunday ether do a loop or turn around and hike back 

Edited June 18, 2014 by ChattownKA

[Moped]

We love Big South Fork!  If you car camp, then Fall Creek Falls is nice.  If we go to the Smokies, we like Abrams Creek for camping.

[peejman]

We love Big South Fork! If you car camp, then Fall Creek Falls is nice. If we go to the Smokies, we like Abrams Creek for camping.

The Abrams Creek campground has been closed for a couple years.

If you're after 20-30 miles, BSF or GSMNP are your best options. If you want solitude, avoid the AT trail shelters in the park.

[Moped]

Yeah, the Sequester got it. It was the best campground in the park. :(

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[LagerHead]

Not East TN, but I am going (back) to Hot Springs, NC and Linville Falls over the 4th of July weekend.

[79troublehead]

Another vote for the Big South Fork. You could spend the rest of your life hiking and camping it and still not see it all.

[babelt]

Not East TN, but I am going (back) to Hot Springs, NC and Linville Falls over the 4th of July weekend.

 

I go to Hot Springs a couple times a month with the girlfriend. It is less than a 30 minute rid from my house with 3 different paths that you can take. We love the atmosphere down there and the Spring Creek Tavern is the best hangout spot. 

[LagerHead]

I go to Hot Springs a couple times a month with the girlfriend. It is less than a 30 minute rid from my house with 3 different paths that you can take. We love the atmosphere down there and the Spring Creek Tavern is the best hangout spot. 

 

Yep. And they have Two Hearted Ale on tap.